Body found in street after 'loud bang'

Distraught relatives of a man shot dead in Melbourne's north-east say they know who killed him, warning police to ''go find him before we do''.

Michael Jones, 47, was fatally shot in the middle of a suburban street in Heidelberg West, shortly before 7.30am on Tuesday.

The killer fled the murder scene and remained on the run on Tuesday night.

Police officers and the dog squad scoured the grasslands along Darebin Creek and surrounding streets for the gun, while the air wing was sent to hunt for the offender. A weapon was not found and no arrests have been made.

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Several relatives of Mr Jones arrived soon after 2pm at his Heidelberg West home, about 100 metres from where he died.

A man believed to be the victim's uncle began swearing at a female police officer and crying out that he knew who had shot his nephew.

''We have told you who did it, now go and get him, before we do,'' he screamed. Family and friends then sped away in their cars. A man was heard yelling into a mobile phone: ''You're dead ... we're coming to get you.''

Robbie Lampard, a friend and neighbour of Mr Jones, said, ''He was a really good bloke. If you ever needed anything he'd give it to you. He was the best.''

Mr Jones was found bloodied and dying on the road by a passing truck driver, who tried desperately to resuscitate him.

Police and paramedics raced to the scene to help conduct CPR, but Mr Jones was pronounced dead.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said investigators were still searching for the offender, the weapon and a motive. He said Mr Jones had been known to police but had not been on their radar for about 10 years. Senior Sergeant Bailey described the killing as ''brazen and high-risk'', given it was in a suburban area while children would have been leaving for school.

He said the fatal shooting was likely a targeted attack, but could not confirm the type of gun used or how many shots were fired.

''These type of crimes don't happen in suburbia without some sort if motive behind them, but we don't know what the motive is at this time.''

Blackwood Parade resident Anna Ali, 67, said she recognised the loud crack of a shotgun about 7.20am. ''It was just the one bang and I could tell it was a gun,'' she said.

Ms Ali said a family with primary school-aged children lived in front of where the man died.

''It's disgusting,'' she said. ''This is much too close to home.''

Another local, Jamad, was making breakfast for her children when she heard what sounded like an explosion.

''Then when I saw all the police cars after I knew what it was,'' she said.

''My kids asked what was happening, but I didn't tell them. I didn't want to scare them.''